Buffer eor motor-driven vehicles



E. E. WARNER.

BUFFER FOR MOTOR DRIVEN VEHICLES.

APPLICATION HLED MN. I0. 1920.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR E. WARNER, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

l l I BUFFER FOR MOTOR-DRIVEN VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16 1921.

Application filed January 10, 1920. Serial No. 350,529.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I EDGAR E. WARNER, a citizen of the United states, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Buffers for Motor-Driven Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in buffers for motor driven vehicles.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved form of buffer having maximum efiiciency and which can be produced at minimum cost.

With the above mentioned object in view, I propose to employ a simple flat bar substantially rectangular in cross section and having its respective end portions bent in the form of a loop with its extremities clamped to a connecting member or bolt which carries a reinforcing cushion within the loop in a position to receive the inward pressure of the outer portion of the bar when the latter encounters an obstruction. By providing these cushions, a relatively light bar may be employed with a consequent softening of the initial impact when the bar strikes an obstruction, followed by an increase in its resistance after the outer portion has been forced back against the rubber cushions. This is a great advantage over the bars heretofore used for the reason that damage in collisions usually occurs at the time of the initial impact and therefore by providing a buffer bar which will yield so readily as to avoid damage at the moment of impact, I am enabled to materially reduce the inertia of the car between the time of the initial impact and the time or period of maximum resistance to be afforded by the bar.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form of connection between the buffer bar and vehicle frame, the connection which I have designed being adapted to utilize the same shackle bolts which are used to connect the springs with the projecting ends of the side frame bars. My improved connecting members also serve to protect the spring hangers and their bearings from grit, and utilize both the frame bar and the spring to position the connecting member and the b dder bar, whereby a single bolt will be required to securely hold the buffer bar in its proper place.

In the drawings Figure 1 15 a side vlew of a front end port1on of a vehicle frame and its supporting springs, showing my bufi'er bar attachment in position for use, and with the rear portion of the connecting member partially broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view detached.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views drawn respectively on lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Like parts are identified by'the same reference characters throughout the several views. V

A flat bar of resilient metal, such as steel, has a straight central portion 1 of a length substantially equal to the width of the vehicle and constituting the impact receiving portion of the bar. The end portions of the bar are bent in the form of backwardly extending loops 2 terminating in extremities 3 which are substantially parallel with the portion 1 of the bar and these extremities 3 are suitably apertured to receive bolts 4 having shoulders 5 against which the portions 3 of the bar are. adapted to seat, with the reduced portions of the bolts extending through the apertures in the bar and pro vided with threaded ends adapted to receive nuts 6. 7

The nuts 6 are preferably embedded in rubber blocks 7 suitably socketcd to receive the threaded ends 8 of the bolts. 1 These rubber blocks project partially across -the space inclosed by the looped portions of the resilient bar above described, whereby, when the portion 1 is pressed inwardly, it is adapt ed to yield readily until it contacts with these rubber cushions 7, after which further flexion in the loops will be largely eliminated. But the bar 1 will continue to yield by reason of its own resiliency and thecompression of the rubber cushions until the inertia of the relatively moving vehicle and of the impacting object shall have been overcome.

The bolts 1 are provi ded with shank portions which are forkedat 11 as best shown in Fig. 3. The fork arms'of each shankare adapted to receive the spring hanger 12 of the associated main frame bar between them .in closely fitting relation thereto. The fork Back of the hanger 12, the fork arms are considerably enlarged in the vertical dimension and are connected with each other by a web 16. This web and the side walls 18 formed by the enlarged shanks, constitute a housing for the end portion of the main leaf of the vehicle spring. Within this housing, I preferably, provide a rubber cushion .18 which is adapted to bear upon the main leaf of the spring. The upper wall of the cushion or rubber block 18 is formed to substantially fit against the under surface of the main frame bar along that portion which curves downwardly and receives the shank of the spring hanger 12. Therefore, the housing of the bolt shank and the rubber block 18 therein constitutes a positioning saddle cooperating with the shackle bolt 13 to hold the bolt 4 in its proper position and to also support the buffer bar in correct position foruse. The rubber cushion 18 is adapted to yield under the pressure of the main leaf of the spring in such a manner as to avoid any'tendency to interfere with the normal movements of the spring, although this rubber cushion will of course act to some extent as a shock absorber to receive and distribute violent impacts.

My invention may be applied to either the front or rear end of the vehicle frame, it not being material whether the spring hanger is of the rigid type illustrated in the drawings or whether the spring is connected with the frame by a swinging shackle or link. In either case the bolt which serves to make the connection with the frame, may be utilized to also connect the shank of my improved buffer bar support, to the frame. In any event the shank portions or webs 17 and the rubber saddle cushions 18 will be shaped in conformity to the requirements for the space to which they are applied.

I claim:

1. A buffer for motor driven vehicles comprising the combination of a set of supporting members having a forked portion forming spaced arms, each member adapted to embrace one of the spring hangers at the front end of the main frame, shackle bolts each connecting a spring and supporting member to the frame and passing through both of the arms of the supporting member, and a resilient buffer bar secured to the front ends of the supporting members.

2. A buffer for motor driven vehicles comprising the combination of a set of supporting members each adapted to embrace one of the spring hangers at the front end of the main frame, shackle bolts each connecting a spring and supporting member to the frame and a resilient buffer bar secured to the, front ends of the supporting members, said bufler bar having fiat front and rear surfaces, and rearwardly looped end portions to which the supporting members are clamped, and the supporting members being provided with rubber cushions interposed in said loops.

3. In a buffer mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a set of supporting members, each having a shouldered arm terminating in a threaded shank of reduced. size, in combination with a rubber cushion having aclamping nut embedded therein, said cushion being socketed to allow the threaded shank to engage the nut.

l. in a buffer mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a set of supporting members, each having shouldered arm terminating in a threaded shank of reduced size, in combination with a rubber cushion having a clamp ing nut embedded therein, said cushion being socketed to allow the threaded shank to engage the nut, and a resilient bar having looped ends apertured to receive said shank, and adapted to be clamped against their shoulders by the nuts.

5. In a buffer bar mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a set of bar supporting members each having rearwardly extending apertured portions adapted to receive a spring hanger between them with the shackle bolt engaged in the apertures, and having another portion adapted to engage in the space between the vehicle spring and its main frame adjacent to the hanger.

6. in a buffer bar mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a set of bar supporting members each having rearwardly extending apertured portions adapted to receive a spring hanger between them with the shackle bolt engaged in the apertures, and having another portion adapted to engage in the space between the vehicle spring and its main frame adjacent to the hanger, said last mentioned portion comprising a saddle, having its upper surface curved in conformity to the under surface of the main frame bar and having depending flanges between which the spring is received.

7. In a buffer bar mechanism for motor driven vehicles, aset of bar supporting members each having rearwardly extending apertured portions adapted to receive a spring hanger between them with the shackle bolt engaged in the apertures, and having another portion adapted to engage in the space between the vehicle spring and its main frame adjacent to the hanger, said last mentioned portion comprising a saddle, ha ing its upper surface curved in conformity to the under surface of the main frame bar and having depending flanges between which the spring is received, and a resilient cushion within the saddle against which the spring may bear.

8. A buffer bar mounting comprising a set of forwardly extending bolts having forked shanks, adapted to receive the spring hanger of a vehicle frame between them and suitably apertured to receive the shackle bolts which connect the springs of the vehicle with the main frame at the front end thereof, said shanks being enlarged rearwardly from the spring hanger and adapted to engage in the spaces between the springs and vehicle frame and constituting the po sitioning members coiiperative with the shackle bolts to hold the buffer bar in proper position for use.

9. A buffer bar mounting comprising a set of forwardly extending bolts having forked shanks, adapted to receive the spring hanger of a vehicle frame between them and suitably apertured to receive the shackle bolts which connect the springs of the vehicle with the main frame at the front end thereof, said shanks being enlarged rearwardly from the spring hanger and adapted to engage in the spaces between the springs and vehicle frame, and provided with depending flanges adapted to receive the associated portion of the spring between them.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of a witness.

EDGAR E. WVARNER. Witness:

0. C. WEBER. 

